Electrolytic cell



H. |.ALLEN AND K. R. FOX.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATXON FILED JUNEI, 1920.

1,37%,976. Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HERBERT I. ALLEN AND KENT R. FOX, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNORS TO ELECTRON CHEMICAL COMPANY, or MAINE.

To all whomz't may concern Be it known that we, HERBERT I. ALLEN and KENT R. Fox, both citizens of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State'of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrolytic cells for use in the decomposition of saline solutions, and has for its object to provide cer-,

'tain improvements therein for increasing the active area of thecathodes and anodes in a cell occupying a given floor space.

On the, accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a cell em-f bodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical cross section through the same.

Fig. 3 represents an anode.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent other anodes em bodying the present invention.

The cell, which we have selected for illustration as embodying the invention, is of the familiar Allen-Moore type, in which the cathodes are unsubmerged in the electrolyte, diaphragrns of suflicient porosity are employed to permit a relatively free percolation of the electrolyte therethrough from the anode compartment into contact with the cathodes, and in which the cathodes are confined within cathode chambers clamped to the cell body.

The cell body has the usual bottomlO, end walls 11, and freeboards 12, all formed ofi suitable inert material. The sides of the cell body, below the freeboards, are open, and the diaphragms 14, cathodes 15 and frames 16 (which form the cathode chambers) are clamped over the openings by suitable clamps 1 The cathode is formed with a plurality of corrugations 17 between its marginal flanges, and these corrugations may extend either horizontally as shown, or vertically. This construction of the cathodes, per 86, we do not claim as of our invention. The corruga tions may be arcuate or angular, and they lie preferably only within the walls defining.

the openin in the sides of the cell body. The catho es are provided with numerous slots or perforations as ordinarily. The diaphragms 14 cover and are in contact with the inner active faces of the cathodes, and

their margins are clamped against the sidesthe ranged horizontally,

OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Specificationof Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 19, 1921 Application filed June '1. 1920.' Serial No.

of the cell body by the unperforated marfrom the cathode compartments the effluent,

which usually consists. of a mixture of brine and caustic soda, and also the hydrogen which is evolved by the electrochemlcal' reaction.

cathodes are next the anode compartment, and, as stated, are covered by the porous diaphragms.

Each anode consists of a plate having ribs which are complemental to the corrugations in the associated cathode, not only the surfaces of the ribs but also the exposed surfaces of the plates being active. In case the corrugations in the cathodes are arranged horizontally, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In this case, each anode consists of a plurality of plates 18, 18, having ribs 19, 19, secured thereto by pins 20. The plates 18, the ribs. 19 and the pins 20 are all formed of Atcheson graphite 89 or equivalent material. Each plate 18 is shown in Fig. 2 as having two ribs 19, but, if desired, each plate may have a single rib as shown in Fig. 3.. Th tend substantially from cell body, and the plates are secured to upright bars 120 which project through the cover 21 of the cell body. The lowermost anode plates may rest upon insulators 22, which in cell body.

By virtue of this construction, it will be seen that the active area of the anodes is greatly increased, since the surfaces of the plates which are exposed between the ribs Instead of having the ribs arthey may be arranged vertically, as illustrated in Fig. 4, in which case the plates 18, 18, are rovided with the are active.

upri ht ribs 23 pinned t ereto. Each rib mem er may be attached to two plates as shown. This anode is utilized in case the corrugations'of the. cathodes are, vertical. It is quite apparent, of course, that, instead of having semi-cylindrical ribs, we may employ angular ribs, such tor example as, shown at 24 in Fig. 5.

Having thus ex lained the nature of our said invention an described a wa of makmg and using the same, althoug without The concave faces of the corrugations in 65 the anodes may be formed as at plates and ribs exend to end of the 85 turn rest upon the bottom of the 90 attempting set forth all of the forms in which it may he made 01 all 05 the modes of its use What We claim id 1. A11 electrolytic cell comprising a cell lendy, com'u 'ei'eecl perforated. ca-thocle, a porous diaphragm covering and in Contact with active face of the cathode and an enode censisting of one 01' more plates having' ribs complemental to the corrugations 1n the cethede, the expcseclfaces or the plat-es and the ribs bemg actlve,

parallel carbon ribs thereon, the faces of the 15 libs and the faces of the plates between the mb s bemg eetlve.

testlmcny whereof We have afilxecl our si na' buree.

HERBERT l. ALLEN. KENT R. F021. 

